Edinburgh Sports Club
Your hidden gem for rackets sports in Edinburgh's West End, with everything from padel and tennis to squash, a gym, and a lively bar!
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About
If you're wandering Edinburgh's West End, keep an eye out for a hidden gem on an island in the Water of Leith – that's the Edinburgh Sports Club! It's a cracking rackets club with six squash courts, three brilliantly floodlit tennis courts, and three brand-spanking-new, covered padel courts. Seriously, they were the first in Scotland to get padel, so you know they're on top of their game! You can also enjoy table tennis, snooker, hit the gym, or just chill at their lively bar and restaurant, which even hosts fun quiz and curry nights. It’s a super welcoming, family-oriented spot, and while membership is the way to go (with flexible payment plans and no joining fees), they also have a handy "Pay & Play" option for those who just want to drop in. Plus, it's fully accessible and has parking – an insider tip for convenience!
Facilities
Sports Club
Edinburgh Sports Club is a thriving, family-oriented rackets club located in Edinburgh's West End, offering excellent facilities including squash, padel, and floodlit tennis courts, as well as a gym, bar, and restaurant. They aim to integrate new members by introducing them to playing partners and offering various organised activities.
Dining
The Edinburgh Sports Club features a bar and restaurant within its clubhouse, which serve as excellent places to relax, enjoy a bite to eat or a drink, and host a variety of social events such as quiz nights, curry nights, bistro nights, and karaoke. The restaurant provides excellent weekday lunches and the venue can also be hired for parties and special occasions. Additionally, the club offers a barbecue area for members.
Fitness Classes
Adult members can participate in weekly Cardio Tennis.
Gym
The club features a gym, also referred to as a Fitness Room, which was completed and equipped in 1994.
Kids Programme
The club offers a range of junior tennis classes designed to encourage children to enjoy playing tennis while learning the basics, as coaching is available for juniors of all levels.
Padel
Edinburgh Sports Club boasts three fully covered, brand new floodlit padel courts, making it a pioneering club in Scotland for this sport. The Padel revolution at the club started with an initial single uncovered court, and expanded to the current three covered courts.
Snooker
The clubhouse features snooker facilities.
Squash
Edinburgh Sports Club features six squash courts, including two with glass back walls.
Table Tennis
The venue features a first class table tennis facility.
Tennis
Edinburgh Sports Club features three floodlit outdoor tennis courts with a carpet surface. The club offers a comprehensive tennis program encompassing social play, coaching for both juniors and adults, and competitive opportunities in various leagues and club tournaments.
Full Description
Edinburgh Sports Club is a thriving rackets club located at 7 Belford Place, EDINBURGH, EH4 3DH, Scotland. It is nestled on an island in the middle of the Water of Leith World Heritage site. The club boasts excellent facilities including six squash courts, three floodlit tennis courts, three fully covered, brand new floodlit padel courts, and a hardball doubles court. Additionally, it offers a first-class table-tennis facility, a gym, snooker, and a bar and restaurant. The club is wheelchair accessible and has parking available. It maintains a strong user rating of 4.5 based on 109 reviews. The club provides a wide array of tennis activities catering to all skill levels, from beginners to competitive players. Social tennis sessions are held on Friday evenings during the summer, and members can also book courts for their own games. A comprehensive coaching program is available for both adults and juniors, including junior tennis classes, weekly Cardio Tennis, and group technique and tactics classes, with individual lessons also offered by a highly qualified coaching team. For competitive players, Men's and Ladies teams participate in the East of Scotland Lawn Tennis Association Leagues (Summer and Winter), and the club hosts various club tournaments and team events. Membership is a core aspect of the club, described as family-orientated, and anyone can join. There are no joining or court fees, and a variety of membership options are available, payable monthly or as a single annual fee. The club also offers a "Pay & Play" option. Beyond sports, the clubhouse serves as a social hub with a bar and restaurant offering food and drinks. It hosts a range of social events such as quiz nights and curry nights. The club has extended its facilities over the years, with notable developments including the installation of padel courts (the first in Scotland in 2014, expanding to three covered courts by 2021), the creation of two additional squash courts (Courts 6 and 7) in 1968, and the establishment of a Fitness Room, Ladies Steam Room, and Gent's Sauna in 1994. The tennis courts have also undergone significant resurfacing and lighting improvements in 1990 and 1999 respectively. Historically, the club was founded with its first development in 1936, followed by the addition of Courts 4, 5, and a doubles court in 1937-38. The club also previously provided professional accommodation at 10 Belford Mews from 1949 to 1962. It is operational with NFC payment options and an EV charging station operated by POD Point (UK) with 7kW Type 2 connectors.